I need advice please!!

[daniella]

Hello EVERYONE. I'm new here I've had my fish only tank set up for a year now, and i'm interested in adding soft corals only...can you give me some adive on what kind of light i need? please. I ordered a VHO florencent bulb from the mail...and it did not work on my standered hood...is there a special hood i need for a VHO buld. Because this is the second VHO buld that did not intermingle with my hood.

 

[galina]

You need a different Ballest with VHO.. if you can, return the bulbs you bought and check out AHsupply.com for some cheap lighting. They have some nice.. pretty inexepnsive hoods too.
How loarge is your tank? I would suggest around 3.5 watts per gallon. That could handle probably most of the corals you would probably want. That is considered medium lighting. I turned my freshwater tank into a SW, and I've decided to replace the hood. I was a cheapy plastic one anyways and AHsupply has a nice wooden one. I have a 29 gallon tank and I am getting thier 2x55 watt kit with one 10 000k 55 watt bulb and 1 55 watt actinic. Havn't ordered yet but that all comes to about 160.. or around there.
Galina

 

[daniella]

Thanks for replying ...i have a 29 gallon too...
some people told me to get a britelight striplight. but i was wanting to get something like you have, a hood and light that holds 2 - 55 watt bulbs, anyway i only have a hood that holds one flourecent bulb...so i guess i will check out that site you suggested.......thanks

 

[daniella]

i went to that site and i seen the 55 watt kits they looks good...but i don't see where i can buy a conopy ......i'm cufused...

 

[galina]

Good Luck
When I first got into this hobby.. about 4 months ago, I figured I would just replace the one 24" flo I had in the hood and boom.. I would be able to go buy some cool corals.
AHsupply has some nice cheap kits. I would be getting 4 55 watt bulbs but the hood wouldn't hold it. Didn't want to go with Metal Halide.. and you can still put tons of cool stuff under 3.7something watts per gallon. I think they're oak hoods like really nice too.
Galina

 

[galina]

One second.. I'll take a look..

 

[galina]

This is what I was reffering to. <a href="http://www.ahsupply.com/finished_enclosures.htm" target="_blank">http://www.ahsupply.com/finished_enclosures.htm</a>

 

[daniella]

WOW thats is great, i fiannly found something for great price!!!!!!! thanks ALOT...your the first person that was nice, and found me what i needed...one more question! if i got that hood...and the 2-55 watt kitt...will that work and be fine?? just alittle time to set it up?

 

[daniella]

well wait...the top of my tank is not square...i don't know the shape of my tank...its not round...its square of coure...but at each end of the take the glass slants in.....so i think it might look werid......or am'i mixed up here?

 

[galina]

Rounded corners? I'm not sure if that's what you mean.. could you take a picture? Or doodle up a quick drawing in paint to illustrate what you mean? 3.7 watts is considered to be medium lighting and you could house most cool soft corals on it. Just go to ***********.com and in each coral's profile, that they sell it tells what type of lighting they require. You also need some currents for corals, and you might want to look into another powerhead to create some current if you aren't set to go already.
Corals need some extra supplements such as calcium. You should probably research that a little bit if you havn't already.
Galina
You can email me at oceaneo@hotmail.com with any other questions on this topic since this post is getting kind of old..

 

[predator]

What kind of 29 gallon do you have? I mean, who makes it? I am currently working on a nano reef for my girlfriend and I'm having to retro fit (put them in a hood myself). If I know what you have I can help you find a retro fit kit and guid you through putting it in.

 

[molly]

Hi-
I just got exactly what you are talking about for my 29G.
One 55W PC Actinic and one 55W PC 10,000K. The tank looks great under the lighting and I have a couple of mushrooms that have already doubled in size. I was a little concerned about heat but the temp has been stable for the last week.
I don't have any type of canopy on mine, just got a glass top and the lights sit on that. I am very happy with this choice.
Molly

 

[daniella]

i finally found the shape i have......its a flatback hexagon.....and i wanna buld my own canopy...and get the light kit from ahsupply.com...
unless someone sells flatback hexagon conopies...if not i wanna get started as soon as possible......but i don't know how to make the shape perfect...is there a book i can buy?? and i don't kknow what kinda wood to use either haha...so i'm just totally lost...any suggestions??????

 

[daniella]

please reply ASAP...i'm so excited about building a conpoy...i wanna start tonight...

 

[galina]

Hmm.. I doubt you'll be able to buy a canopy in the shape. Kind of complicated. I think your current plan will work. I don't think there are any books on building canopys, but you could probably flip through some DIY books, to read up about building wooden things. Tonight, I would start making a plan.. you wouldn't want to build one, without knowing what your doing. I would map out exactly what your plans are, and measure everything perfectly. You could probably get the supplies you need from a hardware store. BTW, your tank might be too short in legnth for AHsupplies.com's light. They have measurements on thier site. Go add it all up before you start.
Good Luck,
Galina

 

[kris]

Daniella I just came from another post where you claimed nitrates of 100. I REALLY think you should fix that before adding any inverts. To them it's just as important and probably even more so than your lighting. If you already have figured out that problem then disregard this and good luck with your corals.